A Xbox Game Pass the price hike to $29.99 per month last year apparently led to “millions” of subscribers abandoning the service, according to the company. Over the last console generation, Xbox Game Pass has become key to Microsoft's video game strategy. The subscription service began to include all first-party games released by the company on launch day, as well as offering access to other day one games and specific perks.
Earlier this year, Asha Sharma took over as Xbox CEO, replacing Phil Spencer. Sharma wasted no time in making changes to the company, many of which have already become well-respected by users. From changes to achievements, to how exclusivity is handled for first-party games, it's clear that Sharma is looking to the Xbox crowd to figure out how to move forward and make the company more competitive against PlayStation, Nintendo, and Steam.
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Huge losses for Xbox Game Pass
While Xbox Game Pass saw several price increases over the years, one change last year went too far for many users. In an interview with GameSpot, Xbox chief strategy officer Matthew Ball claimed that the service lost “millions” of subscribers in the months following the price hike to $29.99. Xbox Game Pass got a price drop this year, with the caveat that Call of Duty games will no longer be added to the service on day one. Ball went on to say that some of the changes are “resonating” with Xbox users. However, he did not mention whether the company had seen lapsed users return to the service.
Who is that character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
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Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Easy (7.5s) Medium (5.0s) Hard (2.5s) Permadeath (2.5s)
It's unclear if more changes can be expected from Xbox Game Pass. Even if Call of Duty games don't arrive on day one, subscribers are still treated to big games on their release day. Xbox Game Pass just revealed 17 new games on the way, including titles like Halo: Campaign Evolved, Spyro: A Realm Beyondand Fable. The price drop for the service is one way to draw back users, but having high-quality games will be another key element.
One of the biggest complaints about the Xbox Series X/S in recent years is that the systems simply didn't have enough exclusive titles to justify buying one. It's clear that things are starting to change in that regard, and Xbox has re-evaluated its cross-platform strategy. The decision to put previously Xbox-exclusive franchises on platforms like the PS5 and Switch didn't sit well with many fans, and it seems the company's new management is well aware of that fact. In the short term, putting big franchises on other platforms helped games recoup their development costs, but it also may have hurt the chances of people buying an Xbox console or subscribing to Game Pass.
Find the odd one before the timer reaches zero.
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Find the odd one before the timer reaches zero.
Light (15s)Medium (10s)Hard (5s)Permadeath (5s)
It may be too late for Xbox to attract new users in the current console generation. However, the company has a new system on the way, currently known as Project Helix. Getting people to buy the system will require Xbox to retain its most passionate users, while winning over newcomers. It won't be an easy task, and winning back Xbox Game Pass subscribers is part of the battle. It has been a very tough year for the company, but it seems to be on a better track than in a long time.
